Dusk And Dawn (TEGSA)

Chapter 1: Old Town Road

In the beginning, the heaven and the earth were created followed by all the other creations, but one of the most notable ones were humans- Adam and Eve, the first seed, then Cain and Abel, the second seeds.

Could it be that one of each seed rottens in the womb? Or were one of those seeds slowly transformed into what they became in the early life? If so, then which am I? The rotten seed or the transformed seed?

"Karina, are you listening?" A hazy figure stood over me, the blue eyes and blonde hair prominent in the shadowy mist. The air smelled of burnt branches, finding its way into my nostrils and while it may be harsh to some people, it reminded me of home.

"Karina," my mom sung, a melody of lullabies, shaking me lightly to wake me up from sleep. "You fell asleep while I read the book," she chuckled, "c'mon sweetie, let's get you inside."

I rubbed my blurry eyes to drift in one look at my mom, Priscilla, that look that would become the last.

***

The classroom was big, spacious to put it. It smelt of early morning aroma, the one that just eludes from the waking trees. Taking my seat by the window, I stared outside at the school's garden. For a plain school, their garden was a bit exotic which is where most of my time goes to.

I made sure to come two hours earlier everyday to fetch a bucket of water to water all and every plants in the garden, even planting tropical flowers once in a while.

I bit my lips as girls from the senior class plucked one of the plumeria I managed to grow. She sniffed it and my heart melted at her next statement,

"I really love the flowers that new kid plants here."

I freed my lips from the grip of my teeth and managed a healthy and wide smile which I had never once let out since my mom passed away, and that was what captured the teacher's attention.

"Oh wow, I didn't know history class was that interesting, eh Karina?" Our history teacher sarcastically commented. Turning around to send a scorn through my way, she sharply said, "Or perhaps you're thinking about someone? Your boyfriend maybe?"

The statement was harsh, so simple yet harsh, it was almost as it I could feel the pain she was in, reliving the time she was also in high school like me. 

Ms. Oliver had once told us about this dude she really liked in high school. They were in love with each other and the sun had never shone brighter the very day he confessed to her. It was a happy moment that her brain would never forget...but the next day, he was gone.

No one knew how it happened but when she went to pay a surprise visit to his house, she was the one surprised with the yellow tape which had the bolded words, 'STEP AWAY**CRIME SCENE.'

In shock, she had asked around and she got the depressing news that the love of her life had been murdered.

'It was traumatizing, especially since I was just like all of you sitting here, and that reason alone made me take up the job of an history teacher, because history is a depressing topic that has a piece of me because my one true love has become nothing but history.' I remember her telling us during the welcome ceremony for the junior highs.

"Karina!" Mrs. Oliver called, snapping me out from my thoughts, "please pay attention." she warned through her eyes.

I looked around to meet the gaze of my classmates before muttering a soft apology.

She nodded, then returned to the history lesson.

"A couple of years ago, there used to be a bungalow just by the old town road a few hours down,"Mrs. Oliver started the lesson, "it had been said to be inhabited by three people- a woman, a man and their daughter, all blessed with gifts. Then tragedy struck and the house was burnt down alongside the woman and her daughter."

The lesson got my attention, not because it was some wild exaggeration but because it was familiar. It was true. And I was that very girl that got burnt alongside Kiki, the house and Willy, my mom.

Mrs. Oliver took a deep breath in, the possible scent of the plumeria right outside calming her soul. How do I know this? Because the story in that book was much more graphic, and it probably took a lot to summarize it.

"So, what happened to the man?" Ronda asked enthusiastically, her eyes glistening. I didn't blame her though, maybe she was the type that liked true crime related to history or stuffs like that. I could tell from the looks of my other classmates that she wasn't the only one interested in knowing what happened.

"The man..." Mrs. Oliver breathed, "...the man was eaten by the wild animals around the forest they lived in." Beads of sweat had formed around her head and if she wasn't comfortable saying the truth because it was similar to hers, I guessed I'd help her.

"No." I imputed, standing in the process to show my confidence which in a way would be more convincing, "Actually the man went to his other house and the next day, he was announced dead. Reason of death- unknown." I made clear, keeping a direct eye contact with Ms. Oliver.

"H-How did you know?" she asked, her eyes shifting uncontrollably with fear and unease, "the book isn't accessible for those under 18." she mused. Then with all seriousness, she said, "Meet me after school Ms. Karina, there's something we have to discuss."

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A/N: The theme of this chapter, 'Old Town Road' was used when Mrs. Oliver, the history teacher was talking about the house by the old town road. It's also bolded.